Carrying case



March-23,' 1943. 4 'R."F. LAN-DWEHR 2,314,717

CARRYING CASE Filed Feb. 23, 1940 A'rToRNEYs Patented Mar. 23, 1943 CARRYING CASE Richard F. Landwehr, Laurelton, N. Y., assigner to Sagamor Metal Goods Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 23, 1940, Serial No. 320,341

(Cl. B20-32) 10 Claims.v

This invention is disclosed as applied to a ladys vanity case used for carrying make-up, etc. The

invention is, however, applicable to other carrying cases which t int-o the palm of the users hand. Y l

Vanity cases, and analogous carrying cases,

ordinarily consist of two sections which are hinged together and which are latohed closed when the case is being carried. These two sections are often referred to as "tp and bottom, respectively, though there is often little or no difference between the external size and shape of the two sections. Y The prior art vanity case constructions have given rise to considerable difficulty in connection with opening of the case to obtain access to the contents. The dictates of appearance and limited space have made it customary to use small latches mounted on leaf springs or mounted on exible portions of the container. The operation of such latches is diiiicult when the users hands are cold, is virtually impossible when the user is Wearing gloves, and it sometimes results in the breaking of finger-nails. With the prior art constructions it is often particularly diiiicult to keep the latch fully depressed While initiating the opening movement of the top or cover.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a carrying case which ts into the palm of the hand and which can be readily opened, even with cold hands or with gloves on.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carrying case which fits into the palm of the hand and which can be unlatched by pressure from the hand in which the case is held.

An additional object of the invention lis to provide a carrying case in which a single operation not only unlatches the case for opening, but also positively initiates the opening movement.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a carrying case which. upon being unlatched, is

automatically moved toward open condition but without the use of a spring to initiate the opening movement.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a carrying case-which is readily unlatched but which is not apt to become accidentally unlatched through shifting about in a hand-bag, pocket, or the like.

Various additional and detailed objects of theV invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following disclosure.

Fig. l ofthe drawing ls an isometric view showing a vanity case embodying the present invention, in open condition.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, on a reduced scale, of the same vanity case when closed.

Fig 3 is a fragmentary plan viewof the case when open, parts being removed and cut away to show certain parts of the operating mechanisrn. This view shows such parts of the operating mechanism in non-operated position.

4 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3, but with the shown operating parts in operated position.

Fig. 5 is a detail section on line --S of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, of the Vanity case in closed condition. f

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary central longitudinal section showing the beginning of the cover opening movement.

For convenience, the structure will be referred to though it were positioned right side up with the bottom of the case in a horizontal position. It will be understood, however, that in carrying the case, and also in using it, it may 'ne placed in various positions.

Hinged together at I2 are a bottom sheet-metal shelldesignated as a whole by l S and a top sheetmetal shell designated as a whole by Il. The bottom shell has a base or bottom porti on i4, side walls l5 and i6, and end walls il' and i3. Metal extends horizontally from Vthe end walls to form overhanging flanges I1 and la', respectively. The metal of flange Il is continued on in a vertical direction and formed into half of the hinge at l2, as is best seen in Figs. 6 and '7. Side wall i5 is longitudinally slotted at 2li, metal from the slot being projected to form a horizontal bearing flange 25J' (Fig. 4). Side wall i6 is similarly slotted at 2| and provided with a similar heary ing flange 2l (Fig. 5). Slots 20 and 2l receive operating hars which will be referred to later.

The upper section l l has a top portion 22, side walls 23 and 24, and end walls 25 and 2B. `Struck out from end wall 25 is a latch nger 2l (Fig. i). The metal of end wall 2d is formed into a portion of the hinge at l2. Against the Vunder side of cover portion 22 there is positioned a glass mirror 2l, held in place by a metal frame 23 which snaps beneath prick punch indentations such as 29 (four shown). Formed on frame 28 is a protuberance 30 which will be referred to later.

Positioned within lower shell l0 is an interior structure which may be considered as a unit. This interior structure comprises a stamped plate 34l (Fig. l) having downwardly extending wall portions which t within the lower section lil.

Stamped in plate 34 is a loose powder compartment 35 (Fig. 6). This powder compartment is closed by a hinged cover 36, latched closed by spring latch 31, and sealed by an interior annular felt strip 38 (Fig. 6). Also stamped into plate 34 is a bottomless depression 39 into which is snapped a dish-like carrier 40 carrying a rouge cake 4I. Between the powder compartment and the rouge cake there is a hinged member 42 (Fig. 1) which can be swung in and out and which is adapted to hold a lipstick or the like.

The interior structure which is associated with plate 34 is arranged for longitudinal sliding movement with respect to the lower shell Ii). Depending from the long edges of plate 34 are integral side walls which make a sliding t with the inside of walls I5 and I6 of shell I0. In Fig. 5 there is shown at 44 the depending side wall which makes a sliding t with wall I6 of section Ill. In Figs. 6 and 7 there is shown the depending end walls 45 and 45 which are integral with plate 34. As will be seen from these two gures, the depending end walls 45 and 45 are so spaced and shaped as to permit longitudinal sliding movement of the plate 34 (and its associated structure) with respect to the lower shell I5; and when this sliding movement takes place, the depending portions 45 and 46 telescope beneath the overhanging flanges II and I8 respectively of lower shell I0. Positioned beneath flange l1' is a curved leaf spring 41 (Figs. 3, 6, and 7) which biases the interior sliding structure in the direction of end IS of the carrying case. Formed in the interior sliding structure is a rectangular hole 48 (Fig. l) which receives latch iinger 21 to norlatch finger 'i will move the interior sliding structure in the direction of hinge I2, after which the leaf spring 41 will return the interior sliding structure and latch the case closed in the condition shown in Fig. 6.

Projecting through slots and 2I are operating bars 56 and 5I respectively. Integral with bar 5U are cam portions 58a and 591) which respectively engage the depending walls of powder compartment and rouge compartment 39. Similarly bar 5I is provided with cam portions 5Ia and Bib which like wise engage the powder and rouge compartments, respectively. When pressure is applied to bars 55 and 5I in such manner as to move them toward each other, the cam portions previously referred to act on the powder and rouge compartments to thereby move toward hinge I2 the interior sliding structure associated with plate 34. The bars are provided with stops 5Go, 58d, 5Ic and 56d, which are adapted to abut directly against the powder and rouge compartments as shown .in Fig. 4 to thereby limit the inward movement of bars 55 and 5i. Adjacent to the hinge at I2 the plate 34 is provided with an elevation 54 having a protuberance 55 (Fig. 1) which is correlated with protuberance 3D, as is best seen in Figs. 6 and '7. When the interior sliding structure moves toward the hinge I2, protuberance 55 engages protuberance 30 and thereby partially opens the cover I I, as shown in Fig. '1.

To open the case the user has merely to hold it in the palm of his hand and apply pressure to the bars 50 and 5 I. These move inwardly and slide the interior sliding structure toward hinge I2. This removes the holding connection with latch finger 21 and then moves the cover II to partially open position 'as shown in Fig. 1. Since the bars 5I) and 5I are relatively long and require no careful manipulation, the opening of the case can be readily accomplished with cold hands or even with gloves on. To Close the case it is merely necessary to force down lid I I, whereupon latching automatically takes place in conjunction with latch finger 21. I

The case can be so made that it will open upon pressure being applied to only one operating bar. However, I prefer to have both bars move in opening the case. By fitting the interior sliding structure with the proper degree of looseness, pressure upon only one of the operating bars results in slight canting of the interior structure, with the result that it binds and does not execute its sliding movement. This provides a safety factor against accidental opening when the case is shifting about in a hand-bag or the like, as it is quite unlikely that such shifting will place pressure on both of the operating bars at any one time.

In assembling the case, the spring 41 and bars 5I) and 5I may be placed in position in the lower shell I0. Then the interior sliding structure associated with plate 34 may be nested in place. The parts may be so proportioned that when elevation 54 is moved lightly against the hinge at I2, the depending end wall 45 just fails to clear the edge of ange I8. Then by applying pressure to the interior sliding structure to force it in the direction of hinge I2, the hinge and the protuberance 54 will yield sufficiently to allow depending end wall 46 to be projected downwardly past the edge of flange I8 into the position shown in Fig. 7. Of course, spring 41 then moves the interior sliding structure into the position shown in Fig. 6.

In compliance with the patent statutes, I have disclosed the best form in which I have contemplated applying my invention. It will be realized, however, that the invention is applicable to carrying cases other than ladies vanity cases and that various changes in structure can be made within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure is to be considered as illustrative of the invention, rather than limiting the scope of the same.

I claim:

l. A carrying case which fits into the palm of the hand, said case comprising: two hinged members which latch together when the case is closed; operating bars projecting from opposite edges of the case, both of the bars being simultaneously movable inwardly of the case and toward one another by pressure appliedby the hand in which the case is held; and mechanism operative in response to such combined simultaneous bar movement to unlatch said hinged members for opening of the case, said mechanism being operatively non-responsive to pressure applied to either one of said bars only.

2. A carrying case which ts into the palm of the hand, said case comprising: two hinged members which latch together when the case is closed; operating bars projecting from opposite edges of the case, both of the bars being simultaneously movable inwardly of the case and toward one another by pressure applied by the hand in which the case is held; and mechanism operative in response to such combined simultaneous bar movement to unlatch said hinged members and also initiate opening movement of the case, said mechanism being operatively non-responsive to pressure applied to either one of said bars only.

3. A carrying case comprising: hinged sections which close together, one of said sectionsbeing provided with a latch element; an interior structure slidably mounted in the other of said sections, said interior structure having latch means cooperating with said latch element to latch the case closed; means to slidably bias said interior structure into latching position; opposed cams movable against said interior structure from opposite directions to slide said interior structure in opposition to its bias and thereby unlatch the case for opening; and means projecting from opposite sides of the case and operable by hand pressure to actuate said cams. A

4. A carrying case comprising: hinged sections which close together; a latch of the hole-andtelescoping-nger type operative to latch the case closed; an interior structure slidably mounted in one of said sections, the other of said sections including one of the cooperating elements of said latch and said interior structure including the other of the cooperating elements of said latch; opposed cam means movable against said interior structure from opposite directions to slide said interior structure and thereby unlatch the case for opening; and means projecting from opposite sides of the case and operable by hand pressure to actuate said cams.

5. A carrying case comprising: hinged sections Which close together; a latch of the holeand-telescoping-nger type operative to latch the case closed; an interior structure slidably mounted in one of said sections, the other of said sections including one of the cooperating elements of said latch and said interior structure including the other of the cooperating elements of said latch; means to slidingly bias said interior structure into latching position; opposed cams movable against said interior structure from opposite directions to slide said interior structure in opposition to its bias and thereby unlatch the case for opening; and means projecting from opposite sides of the case and operable by hand pressure to actuate said cams.

6. A carrying case comprising hinged sections which close together, one of said sections being provided with a latch element; an interior structure moya-bly mounted in the other of said sections, said interior structure having latch means cooperating with said latch element to latch the case closed; opposed cams movable against said tions, said interior structure having latch means cooperating with said latch element to latch the case closed; opposed cams movable against said interior structure from opposite directions to move said interior structure and thereby unlatch the case; means projecting from opposite sides of the case and operable by hand pressure to actuate said cams; and means automatically operative upon unlatching of the case to initiate the case opening movement.

8. A carrying case which fits into the palm of the hand, said case comprising: two hinged members which latch 'together when the case is closed; operating bars projecting from opposite edges of the case, the bars being simultaneously movable inwardly of the case and toward one another by pressure applied by the hand in which the case is held; an interior structure movable Within the case to unlatch the same, and cam means controlled by such combined simultaneousmovement v of said bars and operative to move said interior interior structure from opposite directions to move said interior structure and thereby unlatch the case for opening; and means projecting from opposite sides of the case and operable by hand pressure to actuate said cams.

7. A carrying case comprising hinged sections which close together, one of said sections being provided with a latch element; an interior structure movably mounted in the other of said secstructure and thereby unlatch the case for opening, said cam means being operatively non-responsive-to pressure applied to either one of said bars only.

9. A carrying case which fits into the palm of the hand, said case comprising: two hinged members which latch together when the case is closed; operating bars projecting from opposite edges of the case, the bars being simultaneously movable inwardly of the case and toward one another by pressure applied by the hand in which the oase is held; an interior structure movable within the case to unlatch the same; cam means controlled by such combined simultaneous movement of said bars and operative to move said interior structure and thereby unlatch the case for opening, and means to automatically initiate the opening movement of the case when the same is unlatched, said cam means being operatively non-responsive to pressure applied to either one of said bars only.

l0. A carrying case which fits into the palm of the hand, said case comprising: two hinged members; cooperating latch members to latch the hinged members togetherl when the case is closed; operating bars projecting from opposite edges of the case, the bars being movable toward one another by pressure applied by the hand in which the case is held; an interior structure carrying one of said cooperating latch members, the interior structure being movable Within the case to unlatch the same; cam means controlled by said bars and Operative to move said interior structure; and cam means carried by said interior structure and automatically operative to positively initiate the opening movement of the case when the same is unlatched.

RICHARD. F. LANDWEI-IR. 

